A war of words has erupted at the Ladbrokes UK Open as three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen launched a blistering attack on the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), accusing the governing body of turning a blind eye to Jonny Clayton’s use of a dart sensor during competitive play.
Van Gerwen, visibly frustrated after his quarter-final match in Minehead, did not hold back when asked about Clayton’s equipment setup.
“I’m so annoyed the PDC is doing nothing,” Van Gerwen told reporters. “Jonny is using a dart sensor — a training device. It’s not for matchplay. It gives feedback on angle, speed, position. Next thing, someone will have a coach in his ear during the match. Where does it stop?”
The Dutchman, known for his fierce competitiveness, claimed the sensor — which attaches to the barrel of the dart and relays data to a connected app — could provide an unfair advantage by helping players adjust their throw mid-game based on real-time analytics.
Clayton, who has been experimenting with the sensor in practice for months, defended its use, insisting it records only passive data and does not actively guide throws during a match.
“It’s just for my own review after the game,” Clayton said. “I’m not getting vibrations or signals. Michael is a great player, but he’s wrong on this.”
The PDC has yet to issue a formal ban on in-match sensor use, a regulatory gap Van Gerwen called “unacceptable for a professional sport.”
“We have rules on everything — darts weight, length, even shirt logos. But apparently, you can wear a computer on your dart and that’s fine? It’s nonsense,” Van Gerwen added. “If they don’t act now, every player will have sensors next year, and darts will look like a tech expo.”
PDC chief executive Matt Porter said the organisation is “aware of the concerns” and will review the matter ahead of the Premier League season, but stopped short of immediate action — a response likely to fuel Van Gerwen’s anger further.
Fans on social media are split, with some backing Van Gerwen’s call for a level playing field, while others accuse him of gamesmanship following a narrow loss to Clayton in a recent European Tour event.
Whether the PDC will step in or let the sensors fly remains to be seen. But Van Gerwen has made one thing clear: he’s not staying quiet.
